BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

28/12/2006

Austria's natural gas storage facilities well-stocked, government says

The Associated Press

VIENNA, Austria: Austria's natural gas storage facilities are well-stocked because of mild temperatures this fall, the government said Thursday as a pricing dispute between Belarus and Russia threatens to disrupt gas supplies to western Europe.

Austria does not receive natural gas supplies via Belarus and in September secured its natural gas imports from Russia until 2027, the economics ministry said in a statement.

Russia's OAO Gazprom is threatening a Jan. 1 supply cutoff to Belarus if the neighboring country does not agree to higher prices. Belarus says that could jeopardize deliveries through its territory to European Union nations.

Gazprom is demanding that Belarus pay more than twice the current price for gas and hand over a 50 percent stake in its gas distribution system.

Source:

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/12/28/europe/EU_GEN_Austria_Gas_Supplies.php

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